Microchips implanted into employees…

I’m not sure if it’s fake news or not. But there are reports that some organisations are implanting microchips into their employees. And No. I’m not kidding. I’m deadly serious…

Obviously this sparks fears employers could use the technology to control & micromanage staff.

After digging a bit deeper, it seems it’s true. Well I say true. The Guardian have recently written an article about it. So I suppose I kinda believe it. Maybe?

The article says UK firm BioTeq (who offer the implants to organisations and individuals) has already fitted 150 implants in the UK.

The tiny chips, implanted in the flesh between the thumb and forefinger, are similar to those for pets. They enable people to open their front door, access their office or start their car with a wave of their hand, and can also store medical data.

Biohax of Sweden are also active with the chips too. And told the Telegraph they are in discussions with several British legal and financial firms about fitting their employees with the microchips (including a company with hundreds of thousands of employees).

The TUC (Trade Union Congress) aren’t happy about it though. General secretary Frances O’Grady said: “We know workers are already concerned that some employers are using tech to control and micromanage, whittling away their staff’s right to privacy. Micro-chipping would give bosses even more power and control over their workers. There are obvious risks involved, and employers must not brush them aside, or pressure staff into being chipped.”

Jowan Österlund (founder of Biohax & former body piercer) told the Telegraph that his microchips (which cost £150 each) could help financial and legal firms improve security, and also said. “These companies have sensitive documents they are dealing with. Micro-chipping would allow them to set restrictions for whoever.”

As a business leader with a fantastic team of people, micro-chipping is never ever something we would consider. Our team are a group of highly motivated people, who take responsibility and make important business decisions each & every day. Why would we undermine them and make them feel we are trying to control them through micro-chipping, when we trust them implicitly to always do the right thing.

Micro-chipping in our organisation will be confined to our printing technology to provide you with a great customer experience. As an example, our photocopiers have embedded technology (through microchips) to tell us when your cartridges are running out. Which allows us to deliver you replacement cartridges (without you telling us or even knowing) so you never stop being able to print.

For me, these company executives who are seriously looking at micro-chipping their employees are either control freaks, or they haven’t built a high performing team. And feel they need to micro manage their employees to get the results they require.

My advice is for them to find a new leader who has the ability to shape their employees into a high performing team, and throw the microchips to the fishes. What would your advice be?